LEGALWATCH: Games Workshop vs Chapterhouse Verdict

[Psychosplodge]

Means skew everything. i'm sure the 1% will buy loads of 40k.

The US system is not to blame for this debacle. Now the law is better defined here. Let's see what happens.

You may say that. Under your system I'm entitled to disagree
There's always been plenty of third party manufacturers out there, all over the place.

But as I said have you read all the GW/chs threads? The just seems a complete difference of what seems acceptable depending on geography, and the jury is from the US. I'm honestly surprised GW have come out with it as well as they have...

[templarboy]

Means skew everything. i'm sure the 1% will buy loads of 40k.


You may say that. Under your system I'm entitled to disagree
There's always been plenty of third party manufacturers out there, all over the place.

But as I said have you read all the GW/chs threads? The just seems a complete difference of what seems acceptable depending on geography, and the jury is from the US. I'm honestly surprised GW have come out with it as well as they have...

I have read it all. If you are implying that I am new here, post count means nothing. Are you implying that a US jury is somehow inferior to a jury in your country (where ever that is)or that they would be unfair in some way? Just come out with your anti-US bias. Don't be shy.

[rle68]

I have read it all. If you are implying that I am new here, post count means nothing. Are you implying that a US jury is somehow inferior to a jury in your country (where ever that is)or that they would be unfair in some way? Just come out with your anti-US bias. Don't be shy.

im with you...^

[Psychosplodge]

I just meant its clear in all the arguments(and theres been many) that the US based contributors are far more accepting of what chs do.
If I was being anti US I would do it quite bluntly.
And I stated months ago that I thought a us jury would have a US bias, Nab or Ciatsidhe (i think) disagreed on the basis that yanks are quite fond of England, and have no brand loyalty or loyalty to US based manufacturer over a better deal/product, hence proliferation of chinese imports.

post edit :Also I pretty much disagree with trial by jury. As the jury of your peers often isn't.

[Caitsidhe]

A lot of these people were hedging their bets before it ever even got going. They were saying how Chapterhouse was going to get destroyed BUT if that for some reason didn't come to pass, it was only because of the failing of American Courts. It couldn't possibly be because Games Workshop simply was wrong or hired incompetent Flying Monkeys to represent them. For my own part, at least, I didn't hedge anything. I stated exactly what I thought would happen. Let's take a look at that shall we:

1. I said that it would be a split decision that primarily favored Chapterhouse.

*Hrm... let me see... ah... here we are... split decision which HEAVILY favors Chapterhouse.

2. I said that Chapterhouse would receive a slap on the wrist.

*25K is a very light penalty indeed.

3. I stated that I didn't think they win any of their Trademark thing.

*It doesn't appear they got any of those.


You could continue to try and blame EVERYONE but Games Workshop, or you could simply accept the fact that they didn't have a good case. I assure you that GW's legal cost far outstrip what they got awarded.

[Psychosplodge]

Oh no I blame GW's incompetence. I disagree with the outcome, but I think it's more their incompetence than CHS being in the right.

Anyway it's 1:30am and I've got drink to sleep off
and i'm feeling very much


Rather selfish them doing it this late.

[Nabterayl]

I don't think withdrawing from the US market would actually do anything. Refusing to sell to in the US market would not make it very much harder for US entities either to copy or design compatible kits for GW products. It also wouldn't cause the market for US entities to make those designs dry up. So withdrawing from the US market would not provide much in the way of protection.

[rle68]

I'm hardly an expert on English law, but I don't think withdrawing from the US market would actually do anything. Refusing to sell to in the US market would not make it very much harder for US entities either to copy or design compatible kits for GW products. It also wouldn't cause the market for US entities to make those designs dry up. So withdrawing from the US market would not provide much in the way of protection.

Think of the black market that would appear overnight here?

[Clockwork]

This one's for BigRed: Any sign of the Final Judgement yet?

[weeble1000]

As I said elsewhere GW never had a chance in an American court .

You only have to look at the locations of people on either side of the argument in any of the many threads, and there seems to be a fundamental difference in what people think are acceptable depending what side of the water you live on.

I personally think the Jury got it wrong. But we'll see what happens next.

Question: what would you do if GW withdrew completely from the NA market because of poor IP protection?

If GW gave up 54 million dollars per year in revenue, I would call the company insane and watch it die. That's the revenue that Andy Jones testified to in deposition, if I recall correctly: 54 million per yer in US sales with an average of 50% being solely related to Warhammer 40,000 products; not including Black Library, Forge World, etc.

Off the top of my head, that seems to be a cool 25% of GW's total annual revenue. GW needs the North American market.